A SAFER bonfire night was had by all in Southport this year after calls to the Fire Service fell dramatically.

A SAFER bonfire night was had by all in Southport this year after calls to the Fire Service fell dramatically.

From Thursday, November 1 to Tuesday, November 6, crews were called out to one bonfire whereas, during the same dates last year, they attended six.

The resort follows Merseyside’s trend as calls on fireworks night dropped from 1,200 to less than 1,000 across the county.

Calls about bonfires reduced from 153 to 114 and those about rubbish fires, from 102 to 56.

The service put decreases down to proactive work done in advance with councils, police and the probation service.

Work included removing 22 tonnes of potential firewood from streets last week and 400 checks on shops storing fireworks.

Officers seized more than 35 tonnes of fireworks which were being sold or stored illegally.

Head of the Fire Service’s Threat Response Group Chris Case said: “It has certainly been quieter than last year not just in terms of incidents but also in terms of problems relating to the Bonfire Night period.

“The community has played a tremendous role in terms of helping us address issues before they become a problem and the standards kept by retailers regarding fireworks has been the highest ever.”